Western Railroad Discussion > "Shipping Wars" on A&E network

I have never seen this series but just noticed it on the schedule coming up
at 10:30 am today Texas time. This episode involves shipppng a 1928 caboose
according to the program description. Apparently these guys bid on moving something
sight unseen (photos and description on internet) and get it to its destination within
a time constraint, hopefully making a profit in the process.

I have just watched it and its a wooden center cupola hack in Eclectic, Alabama to be
hauled to Orem, Utah. The trucker hire a local guy with two excavators and they picked it and loaded
it on his flatbed trailer. Before the trucker even left the property he got stuck as the
cupola would not fit under some power wires so he had to hire a contractor to chop off the cupola.
Having crossed the country with no issues save a bad tire on his rig, he then hired a crane to unload it.

Bid for job $17K
Cost $8500.00
Profit $8500.00

they hacked off the cupola what a pain, the owner figured this would happen? why not get the power co out there to raise the lines?

that hurts.

dan Wrote:
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> they hacked off the cupola what a pain, the owner
> figured this would happen? why not get the power
> co out there to raise the lines?
>
> that hurts.


It is TV...all these shows (though some are entertaining) are "produced" to provide some viewing excitement...nothing in them is random.

I have watched the show before. Having transported quite a bit of stuff myself ranging from using a small utility trailer to a gooseneck flatbed to a tractor trailer, these drivers are all portrayed as idiots on the show. Whenever I have transported something, I have never had any of the troubles that they have. I guess that wouldn't make for very entertaining television, though.

Stupidity sells!

dan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> they hacked off the cupola what a pain, the owner
> figured this would happen? why not get the power
> co out there to raise the lines?
>
> that hurts.


Because raising power lines cost bucks. It would also require oversize permits and escorts.

And the people on this show are definitely not your "top of the line" truckers...

The old adage, "you get what you pay for" applies here. These A&E shows must be re-runs of when this show was on History, because I remember the caboose episode. A couple of these gypo haulers might be responsible, but often they bid so cheap it's difficult to believe they can cover their fuel costs, let alone have any $$$ left over for maintenance, insurance, to put in their pocket, etc. And of course, there is that History/A&E "drama" associated with their work.

Tom Y

icancmp193 Wrote:
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> And of course, there is that History/A&E
> "drama" associated with their work.
>
> Tom Y

"Made Every Day", as they say in their promos.